Fifth Maine Regiment Infantry

This Regiment was organized at Portland, Me., June 24th, 1861, to serve three years, and left on the 26th for Washington, where it arrived on the 28th. They moved into Virginia on the 11th of July, and were assigned to General Howard’s brigade.

At the battle of Bull Run on the 21st, they bore an active and gallant part, losing about 70 in killed, wounded and missing.

On the 16th of October the regiment was assigned to General Slocum’s Brigade and encamped near the Seminary, just below Alexandria.

During the remainder of the Fall and winter large detachments of the regiment were engaged in skirmishes with the enemy while on picket duty, near Mount Vernon.

In April, 1862, they moved to the Peninsula, and at the siege of Yorktown were held in supporting distance but not engaged.

At the battle of West Point, May 7th, they took a prominent part, losing 2 killed and 5 wounded.

At Mechanicsville, in the latter part of May, they were engaged with the enemy in three skirmishes, and also participated in the battle of Gaines’ Mill, June 27th; their loss in the latter engagement was 10 killed, 69 wounded and 16 missing.

The following day the regiment had a severe, though short engagement, at Golding Farm.

On June 30th they again encountered the enemy at Charles City Cross Roads, and at Malvern Hill they were held within supporting distance of the Union army, but were not called into the fight.

On September 1st they arrived at Bull Run, to the support of Gen. Pope’s forces, but as the retreat had already commenced, they were not engaged during that day.

On the 14th of Sept., they participated in the engagement at Crampton’s Pass in the South Mountain Range. Their loss in killed and wounded was 35, missing, 10.

On the 17th they bore a prominent part in the battle of Antietam, being under fire 18 hours.

They crossed the Rappahannock River and on the 11th of Dec., and occupied an important position in the battle of Fredericksburg, after which they returned to their old camp near White Oak Church, where they remained until the 28th of April, 1863, when they joined in the movement across the Rappahannock participated in the battle of Chancellorsville on May 2d and 3d. Their casualties in killed, wounded and missing, were 97 officers and men.

On the 6th of June and the regiment joined in the campaign resulting in the battle of Gettysburg, and the participated in the engagements of July 2d and 3d at that place.

From this time until the 19th the regiment was continually on the move, taking part in several skirmishes.

On the 19th they crossed the Potomac and marched toward Warrenton, where they arrived on the 20th of Oct., and remained until the 7th of Nov., when they marched towards the Rappahannock River and participated in the brilliant charge and capture of the enemy’s works and forces at the crossing of that River. In that engagement their loss was 7 killed and 28 wounded.

On the 8th they joined in the pursuit of the enemy’s retreating column, and after a tedious march, crossed the Rapidan on the 27th, when the regiment, with its brigade, supported the 3d Corps at the battle of Orange Grove.

The following day they occupied position the near Mine Run, which they left on the 3d of Dec., and returned to their old camp near Wellsford’s Ford, remaining there until May 3d, 1864.

On that day they moved across the Hazel River and marched until the 5th, when and they participated in the battle of the Wilderness, and on the 8th in that of Spottsylvania.

On the 10th the regiment formed a part of the forces selected make the charge on the enemy’s works and which resulted in their capture. Their loss in that engagement was more than one-half of their number present.

On the 12th, they again participated in a charge on a part of the enemy’s works, which they carried hand-held permanently.

On the 23rd the regiment crossed the North Anna river, and on the 29th engaged the enemy at the Pamunkey River, and again at Cold Harbor on the 1st of June, participating in all the skirmishes, marches, &c., of the army in its advance towards Petersburg, until the 22d of June, when their term of service having expired, they were ordered to Portland, Me., where they arrived on the 28th.

One hundred and ninety-three officers and men were mustered out and discharged the U. S. service July 27th, 1864, by Lieutenant.I. H. Walker, 14th U. S. Infantry.

The re-enlisted men and recruits, whose terms of service had not expired, were transferred to and organized, together with those of the 6th and 7th regiments, as the 1st Regiment Infantry, Maine Veteran Volunteers.